Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez believes he boasts a unique weapon in Luis Suarez in the race to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russian Federation.
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The home side were dominating the game but Uruguay got back into the match after 31 minutes when Carlos Sanchez headed a ball down to Cavani and the Paris St Germain striker hammered home from 10 yards out.
But Uruguay responded, halfing the deficit before the end of the first half, with a goal by Edinson Cavani in the 32nd minute, 6 minutes after Renato Augusto had increased Brazil’s tally to 2-0.
The last time the former Liverpool star played on the worldwide stage was at the 2014 World Cup when he received a nine-game ban for sinking his teeth into the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.
Brazil had the early momentum after Douglas Costa scored while sliding in the box past three defenders and the keeper just 40 seconds into the match.
Brazil sit in a three-way tie for third place in the standings with eight points following Friday’s draw.
The 27-year-old teased and tormented Sebastian Coates on the right flank before floating a cross to Costa who delicately steered home the finish.
However Brazil had to wait until the 26th minute to grab their second, which arrived after more sorcery from Neymar.
Brazil’s dream start set the tone for the rest of the half, with the hosts rampant against a feeble Uruguay who offered only token opposition for long periods.
Augusto then pulled off a magical dummy to wrong-foot the advancing Fernando Muslera before firing high into the net for 2-0.
Uruguay came out for the second half looking the hungrier of the two sides and Suarez got the equaliser with the help of slack marking by David Luiz.
Uruguay will play again on Wednesday against struggling Peru, which have won just one of five matches since the qualifying campaign began in the fall.
“To play against an attacker like Cavani, like Suarez is not easy”.
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Just three minutes after the interval, though, the visitors were level.
